Getting started with Remote Play on the PS4

By Dan Graziano2013-11-15

You can stream PlayStation 4 games to the PlayStation Vita over a Wi-Fi network. Here's what you need to know.

From the iconic PlayStation to Blu-ray discs, Sony has changed the way we play games and consume media time and time again. The company is looking to shake things up once again with the release of the PlayStation 4. With an 8-core AMD Jaguar processor and a high-end Radeon GPU, Sony's latest console is more powerful than ever before.

Class-leading specs, however, aren't the only thing gamers should be excited about.

The
PlayStation 4 includes a number of new features, such as the ability to share gameplay with friends and even play games while they are being downloaded.

Sony has also expanded the Remote Play feature that was first introduced with the PlayStation 3. Remote Play, which is arguably one of the coolest features, allows users to play PlayStation 4 games on their PlayStation Vita over a Wi-Fi network, freeing up a TV for other use.

Here's what you need to know:

The gear

The ability to remotely play games won't come cheap. In addition to a PlayStation 4 console, which costs $399, gamers will also be required to purchase a PlayStation Vita for $199, and have access to the Internet through a high-end router.

The setup

In the PlayStation 4 settings, select PS Vita Connection Settings, turn Remote Play on, and click on the "Add Device" option. A unique pairing number will then be displayed on your TV screen. From the Vita's home screen, select PS4 Link, choose Remote Play, enter the paring number from the TV, click Register, and select the "Connect to PS4" option.

After pairing is complete, the PlayStation 4's interface will be displayed on the Vita's screen. Simply select the title you wish to play and start gaming. The TV can then be switched to a new HDMI port or even turned off completely.

The games

Sony has said that it "expects that most PS4 titles will support Remote Play unless the title requires a special peripheral like PlayStation Camera," however, it will be up to specific game developers to support the feature.

The limitations

Unfortunately, Remote Play does have some limitations. A strong Internet connection and an equally strong router are a must for low latency streaming. It's also unclear how many titles will realistically support Remote Play, a flaw that crippled the feature on the PlayStation 3.